One can never take some things for granted in life, and health is at the top of that list. Unfortunately, with our fast-paced lives where we work too much in front of screens, our health has taken a back-seat—this has led to an increased risk of diseases that our previous generations may not have had. Therefore, it has become crucial for every person to have a good health insurance plan in place.
Health insurance not only takes care of the rising costs of medical bills, it also provides emotional support and mental peace to individuals and families. So, before you opt for a health insurance policy, here are some of the prerequisites you should be aware of:
- Medical tests: If you plan to buy a medical insurance policy, then you should know that it is mandatory to go in for a medical check-up. The medical test will help the insurance company to gauge the risks associated with your medical conditions, if any, and determine the right insurance premium for your policy.
- Cashless hospitalisation: Health insurance can provide you with the facility of cashless hospitalisation, but here’s a catch – it is available only if you undergo treatment at any of the available network hospitals of your specific insurance company. Hence, it is always better to go with an insurance company that has a broader network of hospitals, especially near your area of residence.
- Pre-existing illnesses: If you have a pre-existing disease before you buy a health insurance policy, then remember that almost every insurer has a waiting period of about 3-5 years for such illnesses. Generally, add-ons or top-ups can reduce the waiting time based on the number of years that are spent in the base policy. * Standard T&C Apply
- Wellness programs: A lot of people may not be aware of this, but many insurance companies cover wellness programs and activities such as yoga classes, sports, health risk assessments, gyms, and so on. Under these wellness programs, for every wellness point that you earn, you can claim redemption against the medical expenses that may not have been covered in your insurance policy according to the terms and conditions. * Standard T&C Apply
- Top-ups: Health insurance policies usually have basic coverage, and a suitable top-up or add-on can extend the coverage further for illnesses that may not have been covered in the basic plan. You can have a number of add-ons such as critical illness insurance cover, personal accident cover, reset benefits, and so on, over and above the base policy. These top-ups are useful even in family health insurance policies and in situations where there is a risk of multiple hospitalisations. * Standard T&C Apply
These are some of the things you should be aware of before you purchase a health insurance policy. It is important to do your own market research before opting for a policy. But, keep in mind that insurance is the subject matter of solicitation.
